Apparel belt

ABSTRACT

An apparel belt includes a flexible belt element which is adapted for disposition about the waist of the wearer and which is interconnected at its adjacent end portions by a combination implement and belt connecting device which is disjointably coupled with the adjacent ends of the belt element and which is readily disjointable from both ends of the belt element for use as an implement together with sheath means at one end of said belt element for receiving a part of said combination implement and belt connecting device.

United States Patent [191 Collins r APPAREL BELT [75] Inventor: Walter Wells Collins, Atlanta, Ga.

[73] Assignee: Adventure Products, Inc., Atlanta,

[22] Filed: Aug. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 281,646

111 3,823,421 [451 Jul 16, 1974 2,423,668 7/1947 Wiethorn 2/322 2,827,214 3/1958 Lutz 24/163 KO 2,898,602 8/1959 Moss 2/325 X 3,175,233 3/1965 Caravella.. 2/322 X 3,272,410 9/1966 Reisman 24/163 KO Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter M. Rodgers [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparel belt includes a flexible belt element which is adapted for disposition about the waist of the wearer and which is interconnected at its adjacent end portions by a combination implement and belt connecting device which is disjointably coupled with the adjacent ends of the belt element and which is readily 'disjointable from both ends of the belt element for use as an implement together with sheath means at one end of said belt element for receiving a part of said combination implement and belt connecting device.

5 Claims, 14 Drawing; Figures PATENTED H 38233121 SHEEI 1 [1F 2 APPAREL BELT For use by military personnel, civilian police officers, campers, explorers, and by other individuals, a device is provided according to the invention which may take the form of a hand implement which doubles as the connecting element for the adjacent ends of an apparel belt and which isthus conveniently carried. While the implement may take any desired form, the invention is well adapted for use as a sportsmans knife or as a survival knife or may take the form of a miniature saw, chisel, screw driver, bottle or can opener or the like."

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: g

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of an apparel belt shown in assembled condition but with portions of the belt element itself broken away for clarity and simplicity;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 and which shows the elements from the outside and withthe parts in their normal positional relationships to each other;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but shows the parts as viewed from the inner side; 2

FIG. 4 is a view from below of the combination implement and belt connecting device shown'in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line designated 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 depict a modification of the invention; with FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 corresponding respectively with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and with FIG. 9 being a top view of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 depict a second modification of the invention and correspond generally with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 respectively and in which FIGS. 13 and 14 are views of combination implement and belt connecting devices in the form of a chisel and combined bottle opener and screw driver respectively.

With reference to the-drawings FIG. 1 discloses a belt element generally designated by the numeral 1 to the handle portion 10. Handle portion is apertured as indicated at 100.

For receiving the blade portion 9 of the combination implement and belt connecting device 8, a'sheath 12 is secured as by stitching 13 to one end of the belt 1 and if desired a similar sheath 14 may be secured as by stitching 15 to the other end of belt 1. Thus with the arrangement depicted in FIG. 3 the knife portion 9 may be inserted into one or theother of the sheaths defined by pockets 12 or 14 as may be desired.

The structure of FIGS. l5 is assembled bysimply disposing the belt element 1 about ,the body of the wearer and by inserting the knife portion 9 of the combination implement and belt connecting device 8 into the pocket 12 for example. Thereafter the flexible releasable fastening strap 2 is inserted through the aperture 10a and snapped in place as shown in FIG. 1 by means of the snaps 4 and 6. Thereafter flexiblereleas- 2 p able fastening strap 3 is inserted through the aperture 100 and snapped in place by means of snaps 5 and 7 and the arrangement appears in assembled condition as shown in FIG. 1. Aperture 10a thus constitutes a single common belt connecting part which cooperates with coupling means in the form of fastening straps 2 and 3. The handle portion 10 simulates the appearance and function of a belt buckle. As is apparent from FIG. 4 the combination implement and beltconnecting device 8 preferably though not necessarily is arcuate in configuration so as to conform generally with the exterior configuration of the body of the wearer.

In order to use the implement, the wearer simply unsnaps the snaps 4, 6 and 5,7 and grasps the handle portion 10 and withdraws the blade portion 9 from'sheath J12.

The arrangement of FIGS. 6, 7, B and 9 includes belt element 16 and the combination implementand belt connecting device 17 the handle portion 18 of which is apertured as indicated at 18a and which is provided with a fastening pinl9 adapted to extend throughaperture 20 formed in one end of belt element 16 and in one of the apertures such as 21, 22 or 23 formed in the other end of belt element 16. As :is shown in FIG. 8 a sheath 24 in the form of a pocket is secured by stitching 25 to the inside surface of belt ,16 and receives the blade portion 26. As is apparent from FIG. 9 pin 19 preferably is inclined at a slight angle to the left, i.e., toward the end of belt element 16 to which sheath 24 is secured asviewed in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9. When the arof belt 16 is inserted through aperture 18a and the pin 19 is then inserted through one or the other of the apertures such as 21, 22 or 23 as may be suitable for the girth of a particular wearer. The pin l9 constitutes a single common .belt connecting part which cooperates with couplingtmeans in the form of apertures 20 and 21-23 as the case may be. Todisconnect the combination implement and belt connecting element from the belt element 16, the reverse procedure is followed.

The arrangement of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 incorporates a belt element 27 together with a combination implement and belt connecting device 28, the handle portion 29 of which is apertured as indicated at 29a and which is provided with a blade 30 one side of which constitutes a cutting edge 31in which a plurality of angularly disposed slots 32 are formed. Thus the combination implement and belt connector 28 may effectively be used as asaw by virtue of its cutting edge 31 and the slots 32. Pin 33 is secured to the combination implement and connecting device 28. A plurality of apertures 34-36 are formed in one end of the belt 27 and an aperture 37 is formed in the other end thereof for receiving the pin 33. I

Unlike the previous forms of the invention, a separate blade receiving pocket is not utilized in the arrangement of FIGS. 10, Hand 12. Instead a series of slits 38-41are formed in one end of belt 27 and define thus may be inserted in basket weave fashion into the left hand end of the belt 27 by simply inserting the blade 30 underneath the right hand end 44 of the belt and atop the strap 43, and underneath the outside portion 45 of belt 27 and atop the strap 42. In FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 the strap 46 is shown and simply is intended to represent a supplementary loop for holding the outer end of the belt 27 in place. Strap 46 could constitute a belt receiving loop formed in the trousers of the wearer or could be secured to belt element 27 in known manner.

The implement and belt connecting element 28 is simply interconnected with the adjacent end of belt 27 as explained with the pin 33 extending through the aperture 37. Thereafter the other end of the belt is inserted through the aperture 29a and strap 46 and the pin 33 is inserted through a selected one of the apertures 34, 35, or 36 as may suit the convenience and comfort of the wearer. The pin 33 thus constitutes a single common belt connecting part which cooperates with coupling means in the form of aperture 37 and 34-36 as the case may be. When assembled the belt appears as shown in FIG. 10.

In order to use the combination implement and belt connecting device as an implement, the wearer simply dislodges the pin 33 from one of the apertures 34-37 and withdraws the end of the belt in which apertures 34-36 are formed from the aperture 29a and strap 46. Thereafter the handle portion 29 is manually grasped and the blade portion 30 withdrawn from its basket weave connection with the straps 42 and 43 and the end of belt .element 27.

The combination implement and belt connecting device shown in FIG. 13 constitutes a chisel for use by campers, sportsmen and others and may be used with any of the belt elements shown in the drawings or their equivalents as is obvious. Similarly FIG. 14 shows a combination implement and belt connecting device in the form of a combination screw driver and bottle opener which can be used with any of the belt elements shown or their equivalents.

While all of the arrangements shown in the drawings utilize apertures in the handle portions of the combination implement and belt connecting device, it will be understood that it is within the purview of the invention to omit such apertures. If an aperture is not formed in the handle portion such as 18, the end of the belt such as 16 in which apertures 21, 22 and 23 are formed would simply overlie the handle portion 18 of the knife and belt connector 17 and a secured connection be tween the pin 19 and one of the apertures 21, 22 or 23 could be maintained by structure such as strap 46 which as pointed out could constitute an element of the trousers of the wearer or could be a separate strap as element.

strap 46 could be secured to belt element such as 27 in known manner.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An apparel belt comprising a belt element, a unitary combination implement and belt connecting device having a single common belt connecting part, and manually disjointable coupling means including means associated with each end of said belt element and directly engageable with saidsingle common belt connecting part of said combination implement and belt connecting device and cooperating therewith for readily connecting and disconnecting each end of said belt element with said combination implement and belt connecting device.

2. A belt accordingto claim 1 wherein said single common belt connecting part comprises a fastening pin extending outwardly from said connecting device for cooperating with an aperture formed in each end of said belt element.

3. A belt according to claim 1 wherein said single common belt connecting part comprises an apertured portion of said combination implement and belt connecting device and wherein said disjointable coupling means is normally disposed within said apertured portion to form a connection therewith.

4. An apparel belt comprising a belt element, a unitary combination implement and belt connecting device having a single common belt connecting part, manually disjointable coupling means including means associated with each end of said belt element and directly engageable with said single common belt connecting part of said combination implement and belt connecting device and cooperating therewith for readily connecting and disconnecting each end of said belt element with said combination implement and belt connectingdevice, and sheath means secured to one end of said belt element for removably retaining a part only of said combination implement and belt connecting device, said coupling means being effective when connecting said one end of said belt element with said combination implement and belt connecting device to maintain said part of said combination implement and belt connecting device in its fully sheathed position.

5. A belt according to claim 4 wherein said single common part comprises a fastening pin affixed to said combination implement and belt connecting device and inclined somewhat toward said one end of said belt 

1. An apparel belt comprising a belt element, a unitary combination implement and belt connecting device having a single common belt connecting part, and manually disjointable coupling means including means associated with each end of said belt element and directly engageable with said single common belt connecting part of said combination implement and belt connecting device and cooperating therewith for readily connecting and disconnecting each end of said belt element with said combination implement and belt connecting device.
 2. A belt according to claim 1 wherein said single common belt connecting part comprises a fastening pin extending outwardly from said connecting device for cooperating with an aperture formed in each end of said belt element.
 3. A belt according to claim 1 wherein said single common belt connecting part comprises an apertured portion of said combination implement and belt connecting device and wherein said disjointable coupling means is normally disposed within said apertuRed portion to form a connection therewith.
 4. An apparel belt comprising a belt element, a unitary combination implement and belt connecting device having a single common belt connecting part, manually disjointable coupling means including means associated with each end of said belt element and directly engageable with said single common belt connecting part of said combination implement and belt connecting device and cooperating therewith for readily connecting and disconnecting each end of said belt element with said combination implement and belt connecting device, and sheath means secured to one end of said belt element for removably retaining a part only of said combination implement and belt connecting device, said coupling means being effective when connecting said one end of said belt element with said combination implement and belt connecting device to maintain said part of said combination implement and belt connecting device in its fully sheathed position.
 5. A belt according to claim 4 wherein said single common part comprises a fastening pin affixed to said combination implement and belt connecting device and inclined somewhat toward said one end of said belt element. 